Air heating and conditioning device for curing tobacco and the like



April 16, 1940- a R. L. SPIK'ES 2,197,325

AIR HEATING AND CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR CURING TOBACCO THE LIKE FiledAug. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .120 z: INQVENTQR ATTORNEYS April 15,1940- R. L. SPIKES 7,

AIR HEATING AND CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR CURING TOBACCO AND THE LIKEFiled Aug. 10, 1938 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 t l v l l l v i I 44 ff 14": v II W I 1 I 1 14 Z Z7 2.9 1.9 1a

)INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 1c, 1940 PATENT OFFICE AIR HEATING ANDCONDITIONING FOR CURING TOBACCO AND'IHEIJKE 'm! n Spikes, Fannville, N.c., asalgnor, by direct and mclne assignments, to O. L. HardyCorporation, Maury, N. 0.. a corp ra Curing tion of North CarolinaApplication August 1., 1m, sci-i No. 224,18; (m (or. 34-11 Thisinvention relates to heating devices and has more particularly to dowith such devices for use as an air conditioning. unit in a tobaccocuring ham or otherspace utilized in the curing 5 of tobacco, theprincipal object being to improve generally upon heating devices to beutilized for the particular purposes outlined so as to simplify theregulation and control not only of the fuel combustion in the operationof the heater but m also in the control of the supply and circulation ofthe air in the space to be conditioned.

With the foregoing and other objects and'advantages to be attained, theinvention consistsin the general structure and particular parts andcombination and arrangement of parts thereof,

as hereinafter described and set forth with par ticularity in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a practical adaptation of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an assembled heating unit; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the unit;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the unit;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on orabout the line 4--4 of Figure 1; 1

Figure 5 is an inverted plan view, and partial horizontal sectionalview, taken on or about the 1ine5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating a practical arrangement of aplurality of the heating units as installed ina tobacco curing barn.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral -|0 designatesthe heatingunit as an entirety, the body of the unit being of a general rectangularform and mounted atits opposite ends on transverse base members H which,as shown,

are heavy plain wooden boards. The body structure is made up of metalsheets which are flanged marginallyto give rigidity to the structure andpermitting the use of relatively thin gauge metal.

As shown, the body comprises upright end sections l2 formed ofrectangular sheets provided with upright angular wings at opposite sidesthereof and being flanged outwardly about its lower marginal portions,as at l3, and along their vertical inner .marginal portions as at H.

The lower marginal flanges l3 of said end sections l2 are nailed,screwed, or bolted, to the wooden base members II, as at l5.

Secured to the upper portions. of the side wings of the and sections l2,as at It, preferably by I bolts as shown, are opposite elongated sidemembers II which are flanged along their lower margin, as at It, andalong their middle upper marginal portions, as at I9, said side membersbeing tapered inclinedly outward from theirmid dle upper portions totheir opposite ends and the marginal flanges l9 continuing along saidinclined portions.

The end sections l2 and upper side members formed and joined as justabove described, m constitute, in effect, a substantial main body framewhich is reinforced at its middle portion by cross braces 20 and 2|,each comprising relatively rigid flat metal bars, the upper cross brace20 having its opposite end portions bent downwardly at right angles, asat 22, and secured to the adjacent -side members IT by bolts 23. The

lower cross brace 2| has its opposite end portions 24 also bent at rightangles and abutting the adjacent end portions 22 of the upper crossbrace 20 and being secured thereto by the same pairs of bolts 23 whichfasten the adjacent portions of the upper brace to the side members l1.These cross braces 20 and 2| span a rectangular opening 25 provided atthe top of the main body of the heater between the opposite middleportions of the side members l1 and the inner ends of cover plates 26,the opposite side marginal portions are rebent as at 21, to be fittedslidably over the adjacent inclined flanged marginal por' tions of saidside members l1 and being fastened 30 in place by bolts 28 located atthe inner corners of said plates 26 and inserted through registeredapertures provided therefore in the coinciding adjacent rebent portions21 of the plates and the flanges IQ of the side members I! therebetween.85

Located above the main body of the device is a hood 29 which issupported with'universal tilting androtatlve movement on the crossbraces 28 and.2|, said hood being in'the formof a generally rectangularinverted pan of substantially 40 the same width and length as the mainbody portion of the device.' Preferably, the hood is crossbraced nearits opposite ends and substantially midway, therebetween, as at 30,while its marginal portion is stiffened by an embossedbeading 45 3|extending therearound. -A mounting for the hood, as shown, comprises astem 32 which is inserted downwardly through aligned apertures providedtherefor in, the upper and lower cross braces 2|! and 2|, and beingsupported on the upper cross brace 20 by a cross pin 33 which may be anordinary cotter pin. At the upper end of the stem 32 is a sphericalenlargement 34 secured fixedly thereto or formed integrally therewith.The spherical head 34' of the stem 8 plate 35 which is attached to thespider by bolts 31 with adjustable tension springs 38 sleeved on thebolts and interposedbetween said plates 35 and the securing nuts 35 ofthe bolts. The spider '35 and retaining plate 55 are obviously providedwith registered apertures of lesser diameter than cally opposed arms,two of which extend longitudinally of the hood and'upwardly intoengagement therewith as at hand being secured thereto by bolts 4], theother pair of arms 42 extending laterally in a lower plane and beingsecured at their ends to the adjacent portionsof the hood by bolts 43.

Any desirable or necessary number'and suitable type of fuel burnerelement may be provided in the device. As shown more clearly in Figures1 and 2, four. of these elements of the oil-burner type are indicatedconventionally, as at 44, the same being spaced apart and arranged in alongitudinal row with their respective oilsupply and flame controls 45serving as supports therefor, said controls being mounted on ahorizontal supply pipe 45 which is supported at its opposite ends on thebase members II and fastened thereto by suitable clips or otherfastening devices as at 41. In this connection, it is noted that in theinstallation or a plurality of the heating devices of the presentinvention, for example, in a tobacco curing barn or the like, for whichpurpose the devices are primarily intended, the same is practicallyaccomplished by first placing the boards or base members H on the floorat the respective locations where the several heaters are to be placedand then mounting on said members ll assemblies of the pipes 45 with theburner elements 44 mounted thereon as separate units over which theheater bodies are next placed and secured to said members II by thefastening means l5, it being understoodthat the lower edge portions ofthe end members l2 of the bodies are notched, as at 48, to fit overadjacent end portions of the pipes 46 with ample clearance therebetween.It is further noted that the respective oil-supply pipes 46 of theseveral units are connected to a main supply by pipe 49 which is in turnconnected to a source of oilsupply (not shown). A conventionalinstallation and hook-up of the heating devices for air conditioning atobacco curing barn or the like is shown diagrammatically in Figure -6,the side walls of the barn being shown in horizontal section anddesignated by the numeral 50.

By the peculiar construction of the main body of the heating unit "I, asherein shown and described, elongated rectangular openings 5I areprovided at opposite sides of the device of relatively large area andthrough which the air is supplied to the burner elements 44 insuflicient quantity to support combustion at all times. Convenientaccess is also aflorded through these side openings 5| for adjustment ofthe respective fuel and flame controls 45 of the burners. The

heated air in the upper portion of the body of the unit passes outthrough the central opening in the top of the body and is deflectedlaterally by the overhanging hood 29,which, as hereinbei'ore described,may be tilted on its universal mounting so as to deflect thepreponderance of v a 2,107,396 p 32 is clamped between-aspider 35 andaretaining the heated air in any desired-direction as it is dischargedfrom the opening 25.

In conditioning the air within a tobacco curing barn or other enclosureused in the curing of tobacco and for other purposes it is not onlyessential that the air be heated but it, is also necessary to admit airfrom the outside and in regulated volume. Provision forsupplying outsideair in connection with the heating device is a most important feature ofthe present invention, and to thisend an air duct 52 is located in oneend portion of the main body of the heater and extended outwardly anddownwardly through an opening in the wall 50 of the ham or otherenclosure, as the case maylbe. This duct 52 in every installation isdisposed at an inclination which is upward from its outer air receivingend to its inner air discharge end, theangle of inclination varying indiflerent installations and depending principally upon the particularheight of the usual brick or concrete base or foundation which supportsthe side wall 50 of the barn, in some instances, or depending upon thepermissible distance above the floor where the opening may be providedin the wall 55 for the projection of said duct 52 therethrough. In anycase, however, a substantial inward and upward inclination isnecessarily maintained so that a circulation of air is induced inwardlythrough the duct 52 when the latter is heated, as occurs when the burnerelements 44 are in operation.

For effecting the angular adjustment of the duct 52 it is swingablysupported at its inner end adjacent the inner marginal portion of theoverlyingcover plate 26, the attachment of the duct to the plate beingpreferably by means of a bolt 53 which is inserted with a rather loose-fit through registered apertures provided therefor in the adjacentportions of the .plate and duct, while to permit up and down swingingmovement of the duct on said bolt 53 the end wall portion of theadjacent upright member of the body is provided with a verticallyelongated opening 5| through which the outer end portion of the duct isextended.

In practically all instances the inner end por tion of the duct 52terminates closely adjacent to the centre opening 25 of the heater body,but said duct may vary in length, depending upon the particularinstallation of the heater. Obviously, the duct may be madein one pieceor comprise two or more sections telescoped or otherwise joined endwisetogether.

For controlling the volume of air passing through the duct 52 and forcutting ofi the supply of air entirely therethrough, a gate 55 isprovided at the outer end of the duct. Preferably, as shown, this gatecomprises a generally circular plate of ample diameter to cover theopening in the adjacent end of the duct, said gate having a peripherallyofl'set portion or car 56 which is apertured for the reception of apivot-bolt 51 which is in turn secured'in an aligned aperture providedtherefor in an angular supporting bracket 58 riveted on the adjacent endportion of the duct. For reinforcing the gate 55 and at the same timeproviding a handle for conveniently manipulating it, an angular piece59is riveted on the outer face of the gate, one end portion of said piece59 extending in overlapping relation to the ear 56 of the gate andhaving a coinciding aperture for the reception of the pivot bolt 51.

In the operation of the heater the heated air in the upper portion ofthe main body of the unit is discharged through the central opening 25and deflected in the desired direction from the unit by the adjustmentof the hood 29 as hereinabove described, and at the same time, if thegate 55 at the outer end of the duct 52 be opened, the air in the ductbeing heated as it is due to the particular location oi the duct in theupper portion of the main body and set at an inward and upwardinclination, the circulated air as induced in the duct is dischargedinto the stream emanating from the opening 25 with a dehumid- I ifyingor other tempering efiect on the air within the barn or enclosure,depending upon the degree to which the tobacco or other content is to betreated and the amount of moisture given oii in the dehydration of thebulk being treated; it being of course understood that from time to timeduring operation of the heater or heaters as installed, the gate orgates 55 will be adjusted to vary the volume of air passing through theduct or ducts.

While the structure herein illustrated and described embodies apractical adaptation of the invention, it is obvious that considerablemodification may be made therein within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The invention therefore isnot limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown in theaccompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heating device of the character described, an elongated,generally rectangular, hollow main body having air heating meanstherein, said body having horizontally elongated openings in itsopposite longitudinal side walls and a top closure above saidlongitudinal side openings and the air heating means, the top closurebeing provided with a central outlet opening for the heated air, and anair duct tube located in the upper portion of the body substantially ina vertical plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body andentering through an end wall of the body and extending at an upwardinclination throughout its length from said body end wall, the duct tubebeing disposed with its major upper portion in the efiective zone ofcreated heat above the heating means whereby the duct tube and the airthereinis heated and the heated air caused to flow upwardly in the ducttube and the upper end of the duct tube being open and terminatingwithin the hollow body and adjacent the heated air outlet of the bodytop closure.

2. In a heating device 'of the character described, a hollow main bodyhaving air heating means therein and provided with an outlet opening atits top for the heated air, an inwardly and upwardly inclined air ducthingedly supported at its inner end in the upper portion of said bodywhereby to be swingable vertically for angular adjustment, said ductextending beyond the adjacent end of the body whereby to be projectedoperably through and beyond an adjacent building wall, and a gate on theouter end portion of said duct for regulating capacity of said duct andclosing the duct, at will.

3. In a heater of the character described, a main body having airheating means therein and provided with an outlet opening at its top forthe heated air, a hood mounted above theoutlet opening with universaladjustment for directing the air discharged from the heater'in differentdirections laterally from the heater, an inwardly and upwardly inclinedair ductlocated within the upper portion of the heater with its innerend hingedly attached to the top of the body adjacent the outlet openingof the heater, and extending through the effective heat zone of theheater.

4. A heating device of the character described, comprising a generallyrectangular elongated main body section having elongated rectangularopenings in its opposite side walls, the top of said body having acentral outlet opening for air heated in the body, the top slopingdownwardly from opposite sides of said outlet opening to the ends of thebody, burner elements arranged in longitudinal series in the lowerportion of the body, an inwardly and upwardly inclined air ductextending into the heated zone in the upper portion of said body, theinner end of said duct being hingedly supported on the top of "the bodyadjacent the outlet opening of the top whereby to be swingablevertically for angular adjustment, the lower end of said ductextending'beyond the adjacent end of the body and provided with a gate.for regulating the capacity of the duct and closing the duct at will.

5. A heating device of the character described, comprising a generallyrectangular elongated main body section having elongated rectangularopenings in its opposite side walls, the top of said body having acentral outlet opening for air heated in the body, the top slopingdownwardly from opposite sides of said outlet opening to the ends of thebody, burner elements arranged in longitudinal series in the lowerportion of the body, an inwardly and upwardly inclined air ductextending in the heated zone in the upper portion of said body, theinner end of said duct being hingedly supported on the top of the bodyadjacent the outlet opening of the top whereby to be swingablevertically for angular adjustment, the lower end of said duct extendingbeyond the adjacent end of the body and provided with a gate forregulating the capacity of the duct and closing the duct at will, anduniversally adjustable deflector means located above the body fordirecting the air discharged from the outlet opening of the body indifl'erent lateral directions at will.

ROBERT L. SPIKES.

